Bill Dzurilla, NZ5N demonstrates how to use the AMSAT-UK FUNcube Dongle to receive signals that have been bounced off the surface of the Moon.
Cuban TV features Amateur Satellite Operation
Hector Luiz Martinez CO6CBF was interviewed on Cuban TV about his amateur radio satellite operating.
Hector, CO6CBF, got his first license at the age of 11 and has been licensed for 11 years. He first became interested in satellites when he heard about the deployment of Suitsat from the International Space Station and he began to search for information about space communications. He eventually built an antenna and made his first satellite contact on January 27, 2011 via the AO-51 satellite.
Since then he has had a contact with an astronaut on the International Space Station and was recently awarded the first satellite VUCC from Cuba. The satellite VHF/UHF Century Club (VUCC) is awarded for contacts with stations in 100 grid squares.
Hector is one of only three radio amateurs in Cuba who are active on the satellites.
Watch the Spanish language TV interview which starts with Hector assembling his satellite antenna
Space Station School Contact Video
A video has been released of the contact between ISS commander Daniel C. Burbank KC5ZSX and students at Hirano Elementary school, Kobe City.
Watch ARISS ham radio contact with Hirano branch of Kobe Youth Nurturing Council, Kobe-city
Further information: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/december2011/ariss_event_1212.htm
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) http://www.ariss.org/
Three Radio Amateurs to launch to ISS
NASA astronaut Don Pettit KD5MDT
On Wednesday, December 21, three radio amateurs will fly to the International Space Station (ISS) for a 6 month stay.
NASA astronaut Don Pettit KD5MDT, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko RN3DX and Dutch astronaut Andre Kuipers, PI9ISS continue preparations for their planned Soyuz launch to the ISS on on December 21 at 0816 EST (1316 GMT).
The SpaceFlightNow web site posted a photo album of the ISS Expedition 30 crew this week during inspections and fit checks in the seats: http://spaceflightnow.com/station/exp30/111209fitcheck/
The European Space Agency has released a video of Andre Kuipers’ mission which can be viewed at:
http://spaceflightnow.com/station/exp30/kuipers.html
The Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft will be encapsulated in the aerodynamic shroud and then mated to its rocket booster next week in preparation for rollout to the launch pad on December 19. After launch the Soyuz will fly a two-day trek to rendezvous with the station for a planned automated docking December 23 at 1020 EST (1520 GMT).
These three hams are headed for a half-year mission aboard the ISS as members of Expeditions 30 and 31.
Source ANS
Watch the launch and docking live on NASA TV
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/december2011/nasa_tv_to_cover_launch_of_ham_radio_trio.htm
From OSCAR 1 to Mars and Beyond
A video of the presentation about Amateur Radio Space Communications given by Mario Lorenz DL5MLO to hackers at the Chaos Communication Camp 2011 is now available.
The talk was titled ‘From OSCAR 1 to Mars and beyond – Amateur Space Exploration – The last 50 years, now, and the future’ and the YouTube description reads:
Radio amateurs have been building and operating satellites for almost fifty years now, and we are aiming for more. In this talk, I’ll present who AMSAT is, what we have achieved in the last fifty years, and what we are working on now.
Back in the 1960’s, radio amateurs seized the opportunity of launching a satellite into space. It would not be the only one; we are approaching OSCAR 70 now. Building satellites has always been challenging and involves using technology in creative ways. I’ll cover some of the more fascinating cases, including some lessons learned during the process. In addition to the satellites in earth orbit, we are also aiming for Mars, and I’ll show what are doing to get there.
Watch From OSCAR 1 to Mars and beyond – CCCamp 2011
Hackers Plan Space Satellites http://www.uk.amsat.org/3172
London Hackspace Project: Hoxton Space Centre http://wiki.london.hackspace.org.uk/view/Project:Hoxton_Space_Centre
London Hackspace work on HackSat1 http://www.uk.amsat.org/2482
The DIY Magic of Amateur Radio video http://www.uk.amsat.org/3158
AMSAT-India Linear Transponder
AMSAT-India 435/145 MHz Linear Transponder
At Hamfest India (HFI) 2011, held in Kochi Dec 10-11, a presentation was given on a new Indian linear transponder and a CubeSat communications system.
This was the largest gathering of radio amateurs in India so far. Radio Amateurs and SWLs from all over the country and invited guests from other countries enjoyed the two-day event.
AMSAT-India gave several presentations at the event, among them was one by Ganesan Namachivayam KJ6LRR in which he described a satellite 435/145 MHz linear transponder with a bandwidth of 50 kHz and capable of 1-3 watts PEP output. AMSAT-India plan to develop a smaller linear transponder for CubeSats.
AMSAT-India CubeSat
Ganesan also described a CubeSat communications system comprising a 435 MHz half-duplex narrow‐band FM transceiver supporting a data rate of 1200-9600 bps. The transmitter produces 1 watt output and can also operate as a Morse Code beacon.
Other presentations included:
- Real Time Tracking by Mani VU2WMY
- Working with LEO Sats by Dr. Raveendranath VU2RVJ
- Telemetry Decoding by Nitin VU3TYG
The slides from the AMSAT-India presentations are at
http://amsatindia.org/presentations/HFI-2011/AI-HFI2011.pdf
Hamfest India (HFI) 2011 http://www.hamfestindia2011.com/
AMSAT India http://www.amsatindia.org/
AMSAT-UK 
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